Editorial Board
This year has been quite unforgettable. With all the different changes we’ve seen on campus, it has been eventful, to say the least. From the presidential election to the College’s $20 million financial deficit that will directly impact students’ lives, this year at Wellesley has been defined by discussion, debate and change.
National politics reflected the changing face of Wellesley in many ways. The presidential election of 2008 was arguably one of the most tumultuous, polarizing and yet groundbreaking races America has seen in years. The controversy of the Bush administration, the war in Iraq, the diversity among presidential candidates and the sudden breakdown of the economy swept Democrats into the White House and both houses of Congress. On election night, screams of excitement were heard all across campus as students rejoiced in the election of America’s first African-American president. For a school that is well known for its diverse student body, this was an historic moment to be celebrated and commemorated. The appointment of former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton—now Madame Secretary of State—was also the pride of Wellesley College’s students and alumnae. Obama’s youth grassroots movement came with the chants of “Yes we can!” and the symbols of “hope” and “change.” Wellesley students volunteered for presidential campaigns and debated the issues—bringing action to the forefront of what we believed. However, the youth grassroots movement did not just end with the elections—the democratic, pioneering spirit that had been dormant for so long among students was revived this year because of the financial crisis our nation and school faced.
Wellesley saw a sudden surge in student activism in the form of protests in response to various changes the administration recently announced. The proposed changes included the shutdown of the Caz and Beebe dining halls and a switch in our dining services provider. Both announcements were met with severe disapproval on the part of students. While some students camped out in tents to show their solidarity with our dining hall staff, others tried to be heard through petitions and written protests to the administration. And while we still do not know for sure exactly what is in store for the dining services, we can be proud of the fact that for a change, so many of us took a stand and actually voiced our concerns.
Along with the changes in dining services, Wellesley’s quintessential form of transportation also underwent some serious revisions. The Senate bus prices were increased to $3 a punch, which caused confusion amongst the student body. Wellesley girls scrambled to hoard up punch passes at the bookstore in the wake of the sudden announcement. And simultaneously, the administration struggled to make a conclusive decision about the future of the bus tickets and schedules. On the plus side, the entire incident led to an amusing thread on Community about the principles and ethics of scalping. On a more positive note, concerts like Girl Talk, Santigold, Mickey Avalon and the Morning Benders kept us entertained. Annual events such as Remix, Dyke Ball and Block Party helped us, even if only temporarily, escape the intense pressure that comes with a Wellesley degree.
However, despite all the stress that comes with work, students found the time to make the small efforts and small initiatives that created the big impact that we felt on campus. People stepped outside their comfort zones and fought even for those causes that did not affect them directly. Indeed, the Wellesley motto, “Non Ministrari, sed Ministrare,” is something our student body has lived up to—and will hopefully continue to exemplify through the tough times and after.
-J.S., S.T., G.T.